Archives of pediatric infectious diseases, Apr 15, 2024
Background: Complete immunization against Rubella and Measles (MR) in pediatrics is achieved usin... more Background: Complete immunization against Rubella and Measles (MR) in pediatrics is achieved using 2 doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella-containing vaccine (MMR) in Iran at 12 and 18 months of age, where more than 95% of children under 5 years of age are vaccinated. Antibody waning in mothers and older children, and genetic diversity in immune responses may render them susceptible to infections. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diversity in immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against these two viruses in pregnant women, infants younger than 2 months, children at 6, 12, and 18 months, and 5 -6 years of age in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on serum specimens sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella in Tehran, Iran, from children under 2 months (n: 50), 6 (n: 54), 12 (n: 54), and 18 (n: 39) months, and 5 -6 years old (n: 49), as well as women at 37 weeks of pregnancy (n: 53), from May to December 2020. Rubella and Measles-specific IgG were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Among serum samples from different provinces of Iran, the lowest positive level of Measles IgG was observed in children aged 6 and 12 months (7.41%), while the highest positive level was found in children aged 18 months (84.62%). For Rubella, the lowest IgG-positive level was seen in children aged 11 -13 months (11.11%), while the highest positive level was observed in the 5 -6 years old group (83.67%). Antibody levels against measles and rubella were higher in pregnant women than in children. Conclusions: Measles and Rubella antibody titers were lower in children 12 months before vaccination and reached a positive level in children aged 18 months post-vaccination. Whereas, lower Measles IgG levels in 5 -6 years old children compared to 18 months old children may be due to waning antibodies. Pregnant women exhibited high levels of protection against these viruses (more than 80% had positive rubella IgG), as anticipated from outcomes of the national vaccination program in 2004.
Background: The large proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has been associa... more Background: The large proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has been associated with a large number of neuropsychiatric manifestations. Despite the high prevalence of COVID-19, few studies have examined such manifestations, especially in children and adolescents. Objectives: This study investigated neuropsychiatric manifestations in hospitalized children and adolescents admitted for COVID-19 infection in Iran. Methods: This prospective observational study included admitted children and adolescents (4 - 18 years old) diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, pediatric neurologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and infectious disease specialists, and assessed 375 infected patients during August and December 2021. Results: Of the 375 patients, 176 (47%) were female, with a mean age of 9.0 ± 3.39 years. Psychiatric and neurological manifestations were reported in 58 (15.5%) and 58 (15.5%) patients, respectively. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were separati...
Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a stressful condition for children and their parents that ... more Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a stressful condition for children and their parents that may affect the patient’s psychological well-being. Evaluating the patients’ psychological status may help physicians manage the disease effectively. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the emotional and behavioral disturbances in children with FI who were referred to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic in Mofid Children’s Hospital from April 2021 to 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children (over four years old) with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence. The diagnosis of chronic constipation and FI were made according to Rome-IV criteria. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) evaluated patients’ emotional, behavioral, and social problems. Results: One hundred one patients with a mean age of 7.96 years were enrolled in the study; 67.32% were males. According to CBCL, 12% (12 patients) indicated emotional and behavioral problems, with CBCL scores in the clinical...
Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of... more Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of fecal soiling in children. Based on the clinical experiences, patients with retentive FI and comorbid psychiatric disorders, were accelerated in their treatment of fecal incontinence when they were being treated with Risperidone for their psychiatric comorbidities, therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Risperidone in the treatment of Retentive FI in children and adolescents. Method: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 170 patients aged 4-16 years eligible for the study were randomly divided into two groups receiving Risperidone (n=70) and placebo (n=70). About half of these patients had newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders and were drug naïve, this was considered in their division. Participants received a daily dose of 0.25-0.5 mg every 12 hours of Risperidone syrup (intervention group) or maltodextrin (placebo group) for 12 weeks. Sociodemographic da...
Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of... more Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of fecal soiling in children. Based on the clinical experiences, patients with retentive FI and comorbid psychiatric disorders, were accelerated in their treatment of fecal incontinence when they were being treated with Risperidone for their psychiatric comorbidities, therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Risperidone in the treatment of Retentive FI in children and adolescents. Method: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 170 patients aged 4-16 years eligible for the study were randomly divided into two groups receiving Risperidone (n=70) and placebo (n=70). About half of these patients had newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders and were drug naïve, this was considered in their division. Participants received a daily dose of 0.25-0.5 mg every 12 hours of Risperidone syrup (intervention group) or maltodextrin (placebo group) for 12 weeks. Sociodemographic da...
Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorde... more Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which may be associated with impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) and social cognition. ToM is a domain in social cognition which refers to one's ability to attribute beliefs, intents, perspectives, and understandings to oneself or others and to understand other's mental state. Methods: We enrolled 52 ADHD adolescents and 41 healthy age-matched controls in this study. We applied The Reading the Mind in The Eyes Task, and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (Th.o.m.a.s) for all participants. The results of these tasks were compared between the two study groups. Results: There were no signi cant differences between these two study groups in terms of ToM abilities using mean scores in Th.o.m.a.s inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Also, we did not nd any association between the mean score in ToM (in both study groups) and our study parameters of gender, mean age, birth rank, family structure, and income. Conclusions: This study did not support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD perform worse on ToM tasks. Introduction: ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Patients may be hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. It is usually rst diagnosed in childhood and may continue into adulthood. These symptoms begin at an early age and vary among different developmental stages(1). ADHD is also known to cause impaired social cognition and inappropriate social behaviors(2, 3). Studies suggest that emotional dysregulation in these patients can contribute to impaired social interactions(4).These children suffer from impairments in mutual friendships, may have passive and disengaged behaviors, have a di cult time interacting with peers, and may be rejected(5). Children with ADHD often experience con icts in the family due to the inability in empathizing with others(6, 7).This is an important issue since social interactions with peers, mutual friendships, and being accepted in the society play fundamental roles in the development of children Recent studies suggest that ADHD may be associated with an impaired theory of mind (ToM)(4). The concept of Theory of Mind (ToM) was rst introduced by Premack et al. In 1978(8). ToM is a domain in social cognition that refers to an individual's ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, views, and perceptions to oneself or others and to understand that others have different mental states toward oneself. Understanding social cues, humor, sarcasm, and metaphors in social situations is another aspect in ToM. The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is the main area that affects ToM(1). Therefore, any structural or functional impairments in this region may lead to an impaired ToM. Neuroimaging studies have shown evidence of cerebellar and frontal cortex abnormalities in patients with ADHD, which can impair social cognition and may contribute to an impaired ToM(1, 3).
Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorde... more Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which may be associated with impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) and social cognition. ToM is a domain in social cognition which refers to one's ability to attribute beliefs, intents, perspectives, and understandings to oneself or others and to understand other's mental state. Methods: We enrolled 52 ADHD adolescents and 41 healthy age-matched controls in this study. We applied The Reading the Mind in The Eyes Task, and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (Th.o.m.a.s) for all participants. The results of these tasks were compared between the two study groups. Results: There were no signi cant differences between these two study groups in terms of ToM abilities using mean scores in Th.o.m.a.s inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Also, we did not nd any association between the mean score in ToM (in both study groups) and our study parameters of gender, mean age, birth rank, family structure, and income. Conclusions: This study did not support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD perform worse on ToM tasks. Introduction: ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Patients may be hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. It is usually rst diagnosed in childhood and may continue into adulthood. These symptoms begin at an early age and vary among different developmental stages(1). ADHD is also known to cause impaired social cognition and inappropriate social behaviors(2, 3). Studies suggest that emotional dysregulation in these patients can contribute to impaired social interactions(4).These children suffer from impairments in mutual friendships, may have passive and disengaged behaviors, have a di cult time interacting with peers, and may be rejected(5). Children with ADHD often experience con icts in the family due to the inability in empathizing with others(6, 7).This is an important issue since social interactions with peers, mutual friendships, and being accepted in the society play fundamental roles in the development of children Recent studies suggest that ADHD may be associated with an impaired theory of mind (ToM)(4). The concept of Theory of Mind (ToM) was rst introduced by Premack et al. In 1978(8). ToM is a domain in social cognition that refers to an individual's ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, views, and perceptions to oneself or others and to understand that others have different mental states toward oneself. Understanding social cues, humor, sarcasm, and metaphors in social situations is another aspect in ToM. The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is the main area that affects ToM(1). Therefore, any structural or functional impairments in this region may lead to an impaired ToM. Neuroimaging studies have shown evidence of cerebellar and frontal cortex abnormalities in patients with ADHD, which can impair social cognition and may contribute to an impaired ToM(1, 3).
Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes acco... more Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes accounts for 1.9 million deaths in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 35% of children with diarrhea receive proper treatment for dehydration; hence, the detection of appropriate interventions enables us to prevent mortality and decrease the morbidity rate. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Ward at the Mofid Children's Hospital, where 95 children were hospitalized with non-exudative acute gastroenteritis and moderate to severe dehydration. Among these patients, 53 children were administered intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and oral rehydration solution (ORS), and 42 children received IV rehydration and ORS plus Racecadotril (ORS+R). Daily bowel movements and their consistency were recorded at admission, 24 hours, and 48 hours after hospitalization. All ...
Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes acco... more Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes accounts for 1.9 million deaths in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 35% of children with diarrhea receive proper treatment for dehydration; hence, the detection of appropriate interventions enables us to prevent mortality and decrease the morbidity rate. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Ward at the Mofid Children's Hospital, where 95 children were hospitalized with non-exudative acute gastroenteritis and moderate to severe dehydration. Among these patients, 53 children were administered intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and oral rehydration solution (ORS), and 42 children received IV rehydration and ORS plus Racecadotril (ORS+R). Daily bowel movements and their consistency were recorded at admission, 24 hours, and 48 hours after hospitalization. All ...
Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children th... more Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes, one of which is anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild anxiety in children with cancer. Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental study. The study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer hospitalized in the oncology ward of one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. The anxiety in children was measured through Beck Children Anxiety Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done in 6 group sessions of 45 minutes via the implementation of aerobics in the playroom. The anxiety of the children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed by using the repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson's correlation and one-way ANOVA in the SPSS 18. Results: The ...
Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children th... more Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes, one of which is anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild anxiety in children with cancer. Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental study. The study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer hospitalized in the oncology ward of one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. The anxiety in children was measured through Beck Children Anxiety Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done in 6 group sessions of 45 minutes via the implementation of aerobics in the playroom. The anxiety of the children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed by using the repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson's correlation and one-way ANOVA in the SPSS 18. Results: The ...
Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Id... more Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Identifying psychiatric disorders along with providing mental health services to prevent the emergence and aggravation of mental health problems in children seems necessary in pediatric hospitals. We aimed to find out the frequency of probable emotional and behavioral disorders among children and adolescents with malignancy. Materials & Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Hematology-Oncology Ward of Mofid Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2017-2018. Emotional and behavioral disorders were assessed in 399 pediatric cancer patients aged 5 to 12 years using the Parent Checklist of CSI-4. Results: Overall, 89.2% of the samples met the diagnostic criteria for at least one disorder. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were specific phobia (57%), enuresis (41.9%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (45.6%) and separation anxiety disorder (30.3%). Our results did not show any si...
Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Id... more Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Identifying psychiatric disorders along with providing mental health services to prevent the emergence and aggravation of mental health problems in children seems necessary in pediatric hospitals. We aimed to find out the frequency of probable emotional and behavioral disorders among children and adolescents with malignancy. Materials & Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Hematology-Oncology Ward of Mofid Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2017-2018. Emotional and behavioral disorders were assessed in 399 pediatric cancer patients aged 5 to 12 years using the Parent Checklist of CSI-4. Results: Overall, 89.2% of the samples met the diagnostic criteria for at least one disorder. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were specific phobia (57%), enuresis (41.9%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (45.6%) and separation anxiety disorder (30.3%). Our results did not show any si...
Background and Objective: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in chi... more Background and Objective: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes one of these consequences is depression. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild depression in children with cancer. Materials and Method: The current research was a quasi-experimental study. Study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer who were hospitalized in the oncology ward of the one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. Depression in children was measured through Kovacs’ “Children Depression Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done as 6 group sessions of 45 minutes with the implementation of aerobics in playroom. Depression of children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed through using repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson’s correlation and...
Objective The aim of the present study was to screen the toddlers who are suspected to be autisti... more Objective The aim of the present study was to screen the toddlers who are suspected to be autistic in their well-child visits at age 18 to 24 months via the Quantitative-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT). Materials & Methods After the screening, the screen-positive cases were clinically assessed by a child psychiatrist and a child developmental psychologist. The total sample included 2467 toddlers; the mean total score of Q-CHAT was 30.64 (SD: 9.133). Result According to the clinical examinations, 6 cases met the criteria for autism (equal to 5.8% of screen-positive cases and 0.25% of the total sample), and 18 cases had a high probability of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion This study showed that the toddlers who were at risk of autism could be screened in PHC. Also, Q-CHAT could be used as a screening tool in Iran.
Archives of pediatric infectious diseases, Apr 15, 2024
Background: Complete immunization against Rubella and Measles (MR) in pediatrics is achieved usin... more Background: Complete immunization against Rubella and Measles (MR) in pediatrics is achieved using 2 doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella-containing vaccine (MMR) in Iran at 12 and 18 months of age, where more than 95% of children under 5 years of age are vaccinated. Antibody waning in mothers and older children, and genetic diversity in immune responses may render them susceptible to infections. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diversity in immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels against these two viruses in pregnant women, infants younger than 2 months, children at 6, 12, and 18 months, and 5 -6 years of age in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on serum specimens sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella in Tehran, Iran, from children under 2 months (n: 50), 6 (n: 54), 12 (n: 54), and 18 (n: 39) months, and 5 -6 years old (n: 49), as well as women at 37 weeks of pregnancy (n: 53), from May to December 2020. Rubella and Measles-specific IgG were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Among serum samples from different provinces of Iran, the lowest positive level of Measles IgG was observed in children aged 6 and 12 months (7.41%), while the highest positive level was found in children aged 18 months (84.62%). For Rubella, the lowest IgG-positive level was seen in children aged 11 -13 months (11.11%), while the highest positive level was observed in the 5 -6 years old group (83.67%). Antibody levels against measles and rubella were higher in pregnant women than in children. Conclusions: Measles and Rubella antibody titers were lower in children 12 months before vaccination and reached a positive level in children aged 18 months post-vaccination. Whereas, lower Measles IgG levels in 5 -6 years old children compared to 18 months old children may be due to waning antibodies. Pregnant women exhibited high levels of protection against these viruses (more than 80% had positive rubella IgG), as anticipated from outcomes of the national vaccination program in 2004.
Background: The large proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has been associa... more Background: The large proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients has been associated with a large number of neuropsychiatric manifestations. Despite the high prevalence of COVID-19, few studies have examined such manifestations, especially in children and adolescents. Objectives: This study investigated neuropsychiatric manifestations in hospitalized children and adolescents admitted for COVID-19 infection in Iran. Methods: This prospective observational study included admitted children and adolescents (4 - 18 years old) diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, pediatric neurologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and infectious disease specialists, and assessed 375 infected patients during August and December 2021. Results: Of the 375 patients, 176 (47%) were female, with a mean age of 9.0 ± 3.39 years. Psychiatric and neurological manifestations were reported in 58 (15.5%) and 58 (15.5%) patients, respectively. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were separati...
Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a stressful condition for children and their parents that ... more Background: Fecal incontinence (FI) is a stressful condition for children and their parents that may affect the patient’s psychological well-being. Evaluating the patients’ psychological status may help physicians manage the disease effectively. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the emotional and behavioral disturbances in children with FI who were referred to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic in Mofid Children’s Hospital from April 2021 to 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children (over four years old) with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence. The diagnosis of chronic constipation and FI were made according to Rome-IV criteria. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) evaluated patients’ emotional, behavioral, and social problems. Results: One hundred one patients with a mean age of 7.96 years were enrolled in the study; 67.32% were males. According to CBCL, 12% (12 patients) indicated emotional and behavioral problems, with CBCL scores in the clinical...
Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of... more Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of fecal soiling in children. Based on the clinical experiences, patients with retentive FI and comorbid psychiatric disorders, were accelerated in their treatment of fecal incontinence when they were being treated with Risperidone for their psychiatric comorbidities, therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Risperidone in the treatment of Retentive FI in children and adolescents. Method: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 170 patients aged 4-16 years eligible for the study were randomly divided into two groups receiving Risperidone (n=70) and placebo (n=70). About half of these patients had newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders and were drug naïve, this was considered in their division. Participants received a daily dose of 0.25-0.5 mg every 12 hours of Risperidone syrup (intervention group) or maltodextrin (placebo group) for 12 weeks. Sociodemographic da...
Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of... more Background: Functional retentive overflow incontinence (Retentive FI) is the most common cause of fecal soiling in children. Based on the clinical experiences, patients with retentive FI and comorbid psychiatric disorders, were accelerated in their treatment of fecal incontinence when they were being treated with Risperidone for their psychiatric comorbidities, therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Risperidone in the treatment of Retentive FI in children and adolescents. Method: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 170 patients aged 4-16 years eligible for the study were randomly divided into two groups receiving Risperidone (n=70) and placebo (n=70). About half of these patients had newly diagnosed psychiatric disorders and were drug naïve, this was considered in their division. Participants received a daily dose of 0.25-0.5 mg every 12 hours of Risperidone syrup (intervention group) or maltodextrin (placebo group) for 12 weeks. Sociodemographic da...
Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorde... more Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which may be associated with impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) and social cognition. ToM is a domain in social cognition which refers to one's ability to attribute beliefs, intents, perspectives, and understandings to oneself or others and to understand other's mental state. Methods: We enrolled 52 ADHD adolescents and 41 healthy age-matched controls in this study. We applied The Reading the Mind in The Eyes Task, and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (Th.o.m.a.s) for all participants. The results of these tasks were compared between the two study groups. Results: There were no signi cant differences between these two study groups in terms of ToM abilities using mean scores in Th.o.m.a.s inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Also, we did not nd any association between the mean score in ToM (in both study groups) and our study parameters of gender, mean age, birth rank, family structure, and income. Conclusions: This study did not support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD perform worse on ToM tasks. Introduction: ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Patients may be hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. It is usually rst diagnosed in childhood and may continue into adulthood. These symptoms begin at an early age and vary among different developmental stages(1). ADHD is also known to cause impaired social cognition and inappropriate social behaviors(2, 3). Studies suggest that emotional dysregulation in these patients can contribute to impaired social interactions(4).These children suffer from impairments in mutual friendships, may have passive and disengaged behaviors, have a di cult time interacting with peers, and may be rejected(5). Children with ADHD often experience con icts in the family due to the inability in empathizing with others(6, 7).This is an important issue since social interactions with peers, mutual friendships, and being accepted in the society play fundamental roles in the development of children Recent studies suggest that ADHD may be associated with an impaired theory of mind (ToM)(4). The concept of Theory of Mind (ToM) was rst introduced by Premack et al. In 1978(8). ToM is a domain in social cognition that refers to an individual's ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, views, and perceptions to oneself or others and to understand that others have different mental states toward oneself. Understanding social cues, humor, sarcasm, and metaphors in social situations is another aspect in ToM. The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is the main area that affects ToM(1). Therefore, any structural or functional impairments in this region may lead to an impaired ToM. Neuroimaging studies have shown evidence of cerebellar and frontal cortex abnormalities in patients with ADHD, which can impair social cognition and may contribute to an impaired ToM(1, 3).
Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorde... more Background: Attention-De cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which may be associated with impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) and social cognition. ToM is a domain in social cognition which refers to one's ability to attribute beliefs, intents, perspectives, and understandings to oneself or others and to understand other's mental state. Methods: We enrolled 52 ADHD adolescents and 41 healthy age-matched controls in this study. We applied The Reading the Mind in The Eyes Task, and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (Th.o.m.a.s) for all participants. The results of these tasks were compared between the two study groups. Results: There were no signi cant differences between these two study groups in terms of ToM abilities using mean scores in Th.o.m.a.s inventory and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test. Also, we did not nd any association between the mean score in ToM (in both study groups) and our study parameters of gender, mean age, birth rank, family structure, and income. Conclusions: This study did not support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD perform worse on ToM tasks. Introduction: ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Patients may be hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive. It is usually rst diagnosed in childhood and may continue into adulthood. These symptoms begin at an early age and vary among different developmental stages(1). ADHD is also known to cause impaired social cognition and inappropriate social behaviors(2, 3). Studies suggest that emotional dysregulation in these patients can contribute to impaired social interactions(4).These children suffer from impairments in mutual friendships, may have passive and disengaged behaviors, have a di cult time interacting with peers, and may be rejected(5). Children with ADHD often experience con icts in the family due to the inability in empathizing with others(6, 7).This is an important issue since social interactions with peers, mutual friendships, and being accepted in the society play fundamental roles in the development of children Recent studies suggest that ADHD may be associated with an impaired theory of mind (ToM)(4). The concept of Theory of Mind (ToM) was rst introduced by Premack et al. In 1978(8). ToM is a domain in social cognition that refers to an individual's ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, views, and perceptions to oneself or others and to understand that others have different mental states toward oneself. Understanding social cues, humor, sarcasm, and metaphors in social situations is another aspect in ToM. The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is the main area that affects ToM(1). Therefore, any structural or functional impairments in this region may lead to an impaired ToM. Neuroimaging studies have shown evidence of cerebellar and frontal cortex abnormalities in patients with ADHD, which can impair social cognition and may contribute to an impaired ToM(1, 3).
Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes acco... more Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes accounts for 1.9 million deaths in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 35% of children with diarrhea receive proper treatment for dehydration; hence, the detection of appropriate interventions enables us to prevent mortality and decrease the morbidity rate. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Ward at the Mofid Children's Hospital, where 95 children were hospitalized with non-exudative acute gastroenteritis and moderate to severe dehydration. Among these patients, 53 children were administered intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and oral rehydration solution (ORS), and 42 children received IV rehydration and ORS plus Racecadotril (ORS+R). Daily bowel movements and their consistency were recorded at admission, 24 hours, and 48 hours after hospitalization. All ...
Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes acco... more Background: Acute diarrhea in children with an annual prevalence of about 2 billion episodes accounts for 1.9 million deaths in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 35% of children with diarrhea receive proper treatment for dehydration; hence, the detection of appropriate interventions enables us to prevent mortality and decrease the morbidity rate. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Ward at the Mofid Children's Hospital, where 95 children were hospitalized with non-exudative acute gastroenteritis and moderate to severe dehydration. Among these patients, 53 children were administered intravenous (IV) fluid therapy and oral rehydration solution (ORS), and 42 children received IV rehydration and ORS plus Racecadotril (ORS+R). Daily bowel movements and their consistency were recorded at admission, 24 hours, and 48 hours after hospitalization. All ...
Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children th... more Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes, one of which is anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild anxiety in children with cancer. Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental study. The study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer hospitalized in the oncology ward of one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. The anxiety in children was measured through Beck Children Anxiety Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done in 6 group sessions of 45 minutes via the implementation of aerobics in the playroom. The anxiety of the children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed by using the repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson's correlation and one-way ANOVA in the SPSS 18. Results: The ...
Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children th... more Background & Aim: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes, one of which is anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild anxiety in children with cancer. Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental study. The study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer hospitalized in the oncology ward of one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. The anxiety in children was measured through Beck Children Anxiety Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done in 6 group sessions of 45 minutes via the implementation of aerobics in the playroom. The anxiety of the children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed by using the repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson's correlation and one-way ANOVA in the SPSS 18. Results: The ...
Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Id... more Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Identifying psychiatric disorders along with providing mental health services to prevent the emergence and aggravation of mental health problems in children seems necessary in pediatric hospitals. We aimed to find out the frequency of probable emotional and behavioral disorders among children and adolescents with malignancy. Materials & Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Hematology-Oncology Ward of Mofid Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2017-2018. Emotional and behavioral disorders were assessed in 399 pediatric cancer patients aged 5 to 12 years using the Parent Checklist of CSI-4. Results: Overall, 89.2% of the samples met the diagnostic criteria for at least one disorder. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were specific phobia (57%), enuresis (41.9%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (45.6%) and separation anxiety disorder (30.3%). Our results did not show any si...
Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Id... more Objectives Childhood malignancies raise a range of medical, psychological and social concerns. Identifying psychiatric disorders along with providing mental health services to prevent the emergence and aggravation of mental health problems in children seems necessary in pediatric hospitals. We aimed to find out the frequency of probable emotional and behavioral disorders among children and adolescents with malignancy. Materials & Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Hematology-Oncology Ward of Mofid Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2017-2018. Emotional and behavioral disorders were assessed in 399 pediatric cancer patients aged 5 to 12 years using the Parent Checklist of CSI-4. Results: Overall, 89.2% of the samples met the diagnostic criteria for at least one disorder. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were specific phobia (57%), enuresis (41.9%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (45.6%) and separation anxiety disorder (30.3%). Our results did not show any si...
Background and Objective: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in chi... more Background and Objective: Cancer is one of the chronic diseases with increasing prevalence in children that has many psychological outcomes one of these consequences is depression. This study was conducted to determine the effect of aerobics on mild depression in children with cancer. Materials and Method: The current research was a quasi-experimental study. Study population was all of the 7-12 years old children with cancer who were hospitalized in the oncology ward of the one of the hospitals in Tehran in 2014. Depression in children was measured through Kovacs’ “Children Depression Inventory and 31 eligible children were selected through convenience sampling. Intervention was done as 6 group sessions of 45 minutes with the implementation of aerobics in playroom. Depression of children was measured again in the last day of intervention (sixth day) and also three weeks later. The data were analyzed through using repeated measures ANOVA, independent T-test, Pearson’s correlation and...
Objective The aim of the present study was to screen the toddlers who are suspected to be autisti... more Objective The aim of the present study was to screen the toddlers who are suspected to be autistic in their well-child visits at age 18 to 24 months via the Quantitative-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT). Materials & Methods After the screening, the screen-positive cases were clinically assessed by a child psychiatrist and a child developmental psychologist. The total sample included 2467 toddlers; the mean total score of Q-CHAT was 30.64 (SD: 9.133). Result According to the clinical examinations, 6 cases met the criteria for autism (equal to 5.8% of screen-positive cases and 0.25% of the total sample), and 18 cases had a high probability of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion This study showed that the toddlers who were at risk of autism could be screened in PHC. Also, Q-CHAT could be used as a screening tool in Iran.
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Papers by Ghazal Zahed